Your Excellency, Prime Minister Lotay Tshering, All the distinguished guests who are visiting India from Bhutan,

This year is the golden jubilee year of the diplomatic relations between India and Bhutan.

In this historic and auspicious year, it is a matter of great happiness for me to welcome Prime Minister Dr. Lotay in India.

I congratulate both the government and the people of Bhutan for successful conduction of the third general elections in Bhutan this year.

My best wishes and congratulations to Prime Minister Dr. Lotay for his success in these elections.

I believe that under his leadership, Bhutan will continue to progress on the path of prosperity and happiness.

Friends,

Prime Minister Dr. Lotay gave me detailed information about his "Narrowing the Gap” vision for Bhutan.

I really commend his vision and I am also very happy because his vision concurs with my vision of "Together with all, development for all.”

I have assured the Prime Minister that as always India will play the role of a trusted partner and friend in the development of Bhutan.

In Bhutan’s 12th Five year plan India will provide assistance of 4500 crore rupees. This contribution will be according to the needs and priorities of Bhutan.

Friends,

Cooperation in Hydro projects has been an important component in the long history of our cooperation.

Today we reviewed our cooperation in all related projects in this important sector.

This is a matter of happiness that the work on the Mangdecchu project is going to be completed soon.

We now have agreement also on the tariff of this project.

Work on other projects is also making satisfactory progress and we both want to further expedite all the other projects.

Space science is the new dimension of our cooperation. I am happy that Ground-Station being built by ISRO in Bhutan to reap the benefits of the South Asian Satellite is soon going to be completed.

With the completion of this project Bhutan will get help in tasks such as weather information, tele-medicine and disaster relief in the far flung areas of the country.

Friends,

Today Prime Minister Dr. Lotay has given me a good news also. Bhutan Government has taken the decision to launch the RuPay Cards soon.

Excellency,

I express my heartfelt gratitude for this decision. I believe that this will further strengthen people to people relations between the two countries.

Excellency,

You chose India for your first foreign visit. And, four years ago, my first foreign visit as the Prime Minister was to Bhutan. This is a symbol of our shared commitment towards strengthening our cooperation with each other to move forward on the path of development.

I believe that this visit of yours to India will be able to give a new pace to our relations. With these words, I once again warmly welcome you and your delegation in India.

Thank You.

Tashi Delek

Disclaimer: PM’s speech was delivered in Hindi. This is an approximate translation of Speech.

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